João Neves’ former teammate reveals all about Benfica: The experience... | OneFootball

José Precatado, former Benfica player, opened up about his time in the club’s youth academy. In a conversation with the national press, the Portuguese footballer lifted the veil on what goes on behind the scenes in Seixal and also offered some praise for João Neves, one of the club’s standout figures.

“If anyone says they wouldn’t like to play for Benfica, they’re lying,” declared the current Mafra winger. The young international, who has represented Portugal at youth level, highlighted the intensity of the training sessions and the discipline required to grow at one of Portugal’s biggest clubs, in an exclusive interview with the newspaper Desporto ao Minuto.

Although he currently plays for Mafra, the 21-year-old Precatado maintains an emotional connection to Benfica and believes in the impact of the club’s youth development: “The experience at the club provides a solid foundation to grow, learn, and evolve. Benfica teaches discipline, commitment, and how to deal with challenges that persist throughout your career.”

“He [João Neves] was always very special. He’s a five-star person and, technically, he ended up being more advanced than all of us. There were videos and interviews that showed his humility and his way of being. Success never went to his head,” he said, not holding back praise for the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder. For the forward, João Neves, who recently won the French Super Cup, like Gonçalo Ramos, is an example of talent combined with character, something Benfica’s academy strives to reinforce.

José Precatado, who plays in Liga 3, has so far accumulated 35 minutes this season for Mafra. The winger played for Benfica between 2019 and 2024, and won a national junior championship in 2021/2022.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.